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hanging skeleton - kennglen (19th Oct 2008 - 21:21:12) Tell me is it really necessary for the residents of a house in Longmore Road to hang a rotting skeleton from a noose in a tree. I realise that it is a haloween decoration but with two local junior schools nearby it is in rather bad taste and a distraction to drivers. .... and haloween is two weeks away.

Re: hanging skeleton - karen feeney (20th Oct 2008 - 10:51:27) kennglen I completely agree with you, it is awful, not the first time we have written about something hanging from that tree either. Halloween decs are one thing but something that is disturbing and quite frankly in bad taste is quite another. Not funny, not tasteful and not necessary. I am going to have to stand and look at it all day on Saturday whilst checking in Carnival floats. Charming....

Re: hanging skeleton - vicky (20th Oct 2008 - 11:01:05) Oh no! they did this last year and the kids LOVED it! as do most of my friends who live on Longmoor, tis nice they make an effort and plse keep doing it every year! as for gruesome oh plse.. kids see worse on their computer and xbox games and TV then on that tree! lighten up and have fun...... LOL x

Re: hanging skeleton - barbara (20th Oct 2008 - 13:58:33) I am shocked that you take this so lightly Vicky. If suppose, a person had recently been bereaved, do you not think then it might be upsetting for someone to drive past this? It also might be upsetting for instance for someone perhaps brought up in the American deep south, redolent of when the klu klux klan hanged people and used trees as the gallows. I agree that children see things on television, but they grow up soon enough and you could always check what they are watching and turn it off! Saying the kids love it- is this ok then? Kids love stuffing themselves with sweets and icecream but they need an adult to tell them that they will be sick! They also love playing with matches is that OK as well?

Re: hanging skeleton - vicky (20th Oct 2008 - 15:13:05) I think this is blown out of all proportion..you may as well suggest that our kids do not dress up for halloween as witches and vampires and ghosts as this too can be very upsetting....children have been doing this for years and I am not taking anything lightly I think that you lot are too serious! Take a look at the halloween decorations around they are just as horrific..shall we ban these too? I mean have you seen some of those masks!! lets get rid of those as well!! Let just enjoy these little occasions and not take it so seriously... Oh and noone complains about distraction to drivers when the Xmas decs are up! as we have all driven past rubber necking to check them out! As for the carnivel which is WONDERFUL some floats in past years have all manner of horrors depicted!!!!!

Re: hanging skeleton - nikki (20th Oct 2008 - 16:42:16) Halloween - -kids knocking on your door up to a week before asking for sweets (it has happened to me!!) and if you don't your property or car becomes a dartboard for eggs and flour. -having your elderly relative too frightened to answer the door because groups of youths in hoodies and masks think its funny to trick and treat late at night. Halloween- used to be fun until a minority spoilt it for everyone else. Times have changed

Re: hanging skeleton - Eneida (20th Oct 2008 - 17:09:28) I don't know why we celebrate Hallowen in the UK....it's an American invention after all!!

Re: hanging skeleton - nikki (20th Oct 2008 - 17:32:37) Eneida and all- if your planning on baking cakes makes sure you take your ID with you to the shops to buy the eggs and flour- some outlets aren't selling any to under 18's, upon request of the safer neighbourhoods scheme ;-p

Re: hanging skeleton - vicky (20th Oct 2008 - 17:39:41) I thought the same but no its a british thing we started first from the St Hallows eve a bit before Guy Fawkes not sure what year etc..something to do with the celtic rituals etc..

Re: hanging skeleton - kennglen (20th Oct 2008 - 17:46:58) Dear Vicky The masks sold in local stores are most definately fun and yes some are a bit scary but the fact that a life size skeleton dripping in blood and a recently added decapitated corpse are hanging from trees in the village is not! We expect to see Christmas decorations hanging from High Street lampposts.... As parents we have a duty to protect our children. If a parent in the privacy of their own home allows their children to watch violent films and TV programmes and play blood thirsty violent games on their x box's etc thats their choice. My children trick or treat and are supervised and do so in a safe manner. We also monitor what they play and watch as appropriate to their age. I am in no way a kill joy but I have sadly known families in the local area who have lost loved ones in a manner that reflect these tastless decorations. We all need to look out for one another.

Re: hanging skeleton - Vicki (with an i!) (20th Oct 2008 - 18:21:00) Sorry, Vicky (with a y), but I have to disagree with you. Halloween can be great fun as long as it is kept in proportion. However, these "decorations" are not exactly in the best taste. Christmas decorations are up for a long time before the Christmas season but it is expected that they will be seen from the road! They are lights after all and can be seen someway off as a warning to drivers! Skeletons from trees are a little unexpected and would be a far bigger distraction if caught out of the corner of a drivers peripheral vision. Kids do have fun at Halloween, mine also trick and treat around the neighbours, who incidentally, are prepared for it, and it needn't be an issue. I know many people who just won't answer their door at Halloween, thus avoiding any upset. Computer games and DVDs are meant to be age appropriate, and just because some parents have a more relaxed view of this doesn't mean that those of us who adhere to them are killjoys! I really think that is room for compromise. Perhaps these decorations could be hung a little closer to the house where they can be 'enjoyed' by the householder and cause less offence to those who are less excited about them! By the way Halloween is one night only! Christmas is a season therefore decorations are up longer! Perhaps the skeleton should come out to play on the 31st!

Re: hanging skeleton - Barry Hope (20th Oct 2008 - 19:55:45) This is definately local inTREEg. I have heard rumours that this was a local tree surgeon that was caught messing around. He was twigged and then suspended from his work while they get to the root and bare bones of the problem. Of course he will claim he was put up to it as he couldn't have climbed up on his own. "I'm sorry M'Lud, I was roped into it after boughing to pressure, I couldn't refuse or I'd be out on a limb". Perhaps we should report this to the local PCSO (Police Community Skeleton Officer), or better still... a Special Branch Officer. They can deal with this very effectively as I understand they operate a skeleton staff policy. I am sure they will make no bones about the seriousness of the situation, especially when the culprit is seen to be hanging around suspiciously. Perhaps we could also get it covered in the local noose paper if we contact their ghost writer. If there are any further developments please report it on this site as we all need to be in the loop. ;)

Re: hanging skeleton - ellen (20th Oct 2008 - 20:16:11) Found on BBC website Hallowe'en - All Hallows' Eve Hallowe'en falls on 31 October each year. The origins of Hallowe'en date back over 2000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). This festival, which means the end of summer, celebrated the end of harvest and the beginning of the Celtic new year on November 1st. November 1 coincided with the Pagan festival of Samhain. Encyclopaedia Britannica says this date may perhaps have been chosen 'in an effort to supplant the Pagan holiday with a Christian observance', and this would have been in line with the policy, suggested by Pope Gregory I of adopting Pagan buildings like the Pantheon and festivals like Samhain to serve a Christian purpose. Over the years these festivals combined. The mass held on All Saints' Day was called Allhallowmass - the mass of the Hallows. (In the Old English language hallow means to bless, consecrate or sanctify.) The night before was known as All Hallows' Eve - which eventually became known as Hallowe'en. All Saints' Day is said to be the day when souls walked the Earth. In early Christian tradition souls were released from purgatory on All Hallow's Eve for 48 hours. There was a clear parallel to the Pagan belief that the spirits of the dead could affect the land of the living on this night. It was celebrated much like Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the Eve of All Saints, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day were called Hallowmass. Not an American idea then... Ellen

Re: hanging skeleton - Dawn Hoskins (20th Oct 2008 - 21:43:14) Hi there Eneida, I am Scottish and the traditions regarding all hallows is very strong among all Celts. Celts celebrated Samhaine which Gran used to pronounce that A’sewin and this is New Year's Eve. I believe that this is where Halloween celebrations came from. [I eagerly await being shot down by all the historians among you LOL…] The new year [Nov 1st] came at the end of October as this was when warm weather finished and dark/cold weather began. As all good Celts know, spirits come at night, and generally have more time to float about in the dark during the winter and this particular night is the longest night of all – so any lingering spirit that had been thinking of dropping in but didn’t quite find the time during the rest of the year, would – of course- have plenty of time to pop in on Samhaine. Celts and those in the north had always lit big fires on Samhaine because that frightened away spirits who were thinking of making a’mischeif - but politicians moved it to 5th November because it suited the Church of England better. That way they could celebrate Catholics being caught for trying to blow up parliament and being tortured to death. Mmmmmmmmmmm lovely! But originally the thought behind dressing up was that iIf spirits were going to be handing around to do mischief on humans, if you dress like a spirit yourself they will not bother you as they think you are one of them. We used to do snap apple night as a child and I have done so with my children as well – well before the American version of All Hallows was imported. We also used to leave a tray of fruit on the door step (not a pumpkin though) so they would be distracted by the fruit and not come in. I think that it was the northerners that went over to America centuries ago that taught them All Hallows celebrations and mischief night - and not the other way around. OK, I’m ready for the onslaught !!!

Re: hanging skeleton - Eneida (20th Oct 2008 - 23:31:12) Well Ellen you have been busy googling!!! Yes, being a Catholic, I do know that all our important Christian festivals where timed to take place (on purpose) at around about the same time of the year as the old pagans ones, that applies to Christmas and Easter too...good thinking IMO! I suppose I should have said Halloween has 'come back' to this country due to the Americans. After all a lot of American citizens are of European origins and they took their traditions with them when they settled there. I don't know where you grew up, but I grew up in Hampshire, England, in the 1950s and I can assure you Halloween was not celebrated to any extent when I was a child, although, of course, All Saints and All Souls days were religious festivals in the Catholic church. Eneida

Re: hanging skeleton - ellen (21st Oct 2008 - 10:31:59) I grew up in Germany until I was 5 then Shrewsbury, Knaphill London and Windsor in the 60s and 70s and in all these places we always did halloween... and not just my family but others in the area...

Re: hanging skeleton - Eneida (21st Oct 2008 - 12:14:16) Ellen when you say you 'did' Halloween do you mean you went trick and treating, threw eggs and flour at people, were the shops full of Halloween paraphernalia? That's what I meant by 'American invention'....and I certainly don't remember any of that going on when I was a child in the 50/60s. All I can remember is bobbing for apples in a bucket of water!! Bonfire night was always the big thing at that time of the year....although the nuns at my school certainly didn't encourage us to celebrate it, for obvious reasons.... Eneida

Re: hanging skeleton - ellen (21st Oct 2008 - 12:42:29) We never used flour and eggs just dressed up and knocked on doors...and we never really tricked anyone as always got some fruit or sweets etc..

Re: hanging skeleton - barbara (21st Oct 2008 - 13:09:36) I agree with you Enieda it is the tasteless americanisation and selling of tatty toys which is objectionable to me. Halloween soft toys on every counter now- this is just retailers delight! Surely parents in these days of credit crunch have enough with Xmas looming, not forgetting the high costs of fireworks! I would encourage Vickki to show her children real "community spirit" and donate any money she would otherwise have spent on cheap tasteless tat to charity. She mentioned the Liphoom Carnival- money raised at the carnival goes to charity there is a point to the floats other than any costumes! What is she teaching her children, how to beg for sweets door to door!

Re: hanging skeleton - vicky (21st Oct 2008 - 13:40:44) That is not nice Barbara please do not mention my children in that way...for your information I donate to charity in a huge way and do not teach my children to 'beg' I expect an apology especially where my children are concerned..how dare you! you can criticise me but NEVER my children As usual this has turned into a slanging match I cant understand that at all..I know this site is to discuss etc. but please do not get too personal.

Re: hanging skeleton - neil (21st Oct 2008 - 16:29:06) Vicky, I can not echo you comments more clearly, I think someone on a forum slagging someone off even more so there children is out of order. I talked to my wife about this last night and she and my kids love the spirt. With all the issues in the world and doom in our money markets a bit of fun is what we all need. If people dont like it then just put a clear not on your door as we do once our kids have gone to bed and then you do not get the knocking on your door. One last comment to add my kids went out last year for the first time due to age and I can confirm they never begged and for all our visitors not one begged.

Re: hanging skeleton - Barry Hope (21st Oct 2008 - 16:59:51) Why Oh Why does everything have to resort to petty argument and personal jibes. Wouldn't the world be a better place and more enjoyable if we all lightened up and respected each others differences instead of finding fault. We are only on this planet once, not long enough in my book to take everything so seriously. Any chance to have a laugh and view life in a light hearted way must be grabbed with both hands. Surely there's enough argument over nothing in this world already. It's OK to like the skeleton. It's also OK not to like the skeleton. I really haven't got a problem wih either point of view.

Re: hanging skeleton - christi (21st Oct 2008 - 18:05:45) I couldn't agree more Barry, this post started of with everyone airing their views and concerns, others saw the funnier side as I did. Why do grown people resort to an annon slanging match, your behaving worse than children. Grow up and stick to the point of the forum!

Re: hanging skeleton - Vicki (21st Oct 2008 - 18:08:16) Barry, Thank goodness for the voice of reason at last! I have noticed that there often times when posts on this site have turned sour. I understood that this site was to generate civilized discussion, both serious and fun. As usual a few have allowed it to degenerate into an excuse for petty point scoring. Personally I have had enough and won't bother entering posts again. Good luck those of you who wish to try maintaining some level of decorum. I fear you are really going to need it. Vicki

Re: hanging skeleton - Jon (21st Oct 2008 - 18:10:49) All this over a hanging skeleton..............WOW!!

Re: hanging skeleton - Sue (21st Oct 2008 - 19:21:49) ... and not a single comment from me. Must be taking the pills that Barry is on!!. Sue

Re: hanging skeleton - jon (21st Oct 2008 - 19:38:45) LOL

Re: hanging skeleton - Steve Read (21st Oct 2008 - 21:20:40) Nor me! pass me another of those pills Sue.

Re: hanging skeleton - Barry Hope (21st Oct 2008 - 22:06:05) Well Sue, that left the subject hanging in mid air ??

Re: hanging skeleton - barbara (21st Oct 2008 - 23:22:50) Dear Vicki I apologise if you take my comments personally. It was not meant to hurt you or your children, I am merely putting my point of view. It is actually reflected all the way through on Wikipedia that trick or treating is considered begging, if you read through all the chapters on Halloween you will see that it is described as begging. The practice apparently did not start until the 1920s-30s in America. The Scottish tradition is somewhat different, with children expected to perform some talent or other in return for sweets. I still dislike the idea of trick or treating. I know that a lot of children do it, and my opinion on the practice has not altered just because there are more and more children doing this on October 31st. It is only fashionable in America, Canada, and Britain, and was not around when I was young.

Re: hanging skeleton - jon (22nd Oct 2008 - 00:50:03) Sod it!! pass me one too LOL

Re: hanging skeleton - Barry Hope (22nd Oct 2008 - 09:15:09) Looks like I could make a fortune selling these pills on the black market. ;)

Re: hanging skeleton - Dawn Hoskins (22nd Oct 2008 - 10:23:59) Not trying to incite a riot, but mischief night in Scotland is exactly that. Things get moved all over the place, turned inside out or upside down, things from one garden put in another etc etc. It is all about playing tricks and doing mischief. Dawn

Re: hanging skeleton - Richard Robertson (30th Oct 2008 - 20:17:37) I have to say that having walked past and seen the hanging skeleton I think it looks brilliant. More power to them say I! It gets right into the spirit of Halloween and makes you laugh (well it does me anyway). Can't wait to see what turns up at Christmas

Re: hanging skeleton - Finchie (2nd Nov 2008 - 23:15:20) Sadly another "begging" night over for the year. We had terrific fun, and some great effort put into costumes. Look forward to next year. On a more positive note though - won't be quiet on the forum for too long - as we have fireworks night coming up - that's always good for a moan. In fact I think I'll get that thread started .... Cheers, Finchie

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